Tourism cooperation was at the top of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ agenda during his five-day visit in China, aspiring to boost the number of Chinese visiting Greece.

In Beijing, Samaras attended the premiere of the 3-episode documentary by Chinese channel CCTV Glamorous Greece and expressed hope that the documentary would enhance understanding and communication between the two peoples. The CCTV documentary, filmed exclusively in Greece in collaboration with Greece's Public Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), is a tribute to ancient as well as modern Greek civilization. According to its director Xu Xiaohui , it aspires to acquaint the Chinese audience with Greece as something more than a tourist destination, focusing also on the Greek way of life.

Meanwhile, Santorini and Athens will provide the perfect scenery for a romantic film Beijing Love Story, an all-star film produced by Wanda Films that will premiere in China on Valentine’s Day, on February 2014.

The agreement was sealed by Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, during the official visit in Beijing, and shootings are to begin in July. The country’s name and the National Tourism Organisation’s logo will appear at the film’s promo campaign and it is estimated that across China, more than 214 million viewers will watch it.


Furthermore, the film will be screened at international film festivals in Cannes, Venice and Tokyo and promo videos of Greece will feature at its opening premiere in 2014.

The 4th Go International business mission and forum will take place in Moscow, on May 27-28. During the 2-day event, over 150 Greek companies will have the opportunity to meet with over 250 Russian ones, in 2,000 pre-arranged B2B meetings, from sectors such as food and drinks, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, real estate & tourism, chemicals, building materials, high-tech products to services, clothing, footwear, and energy.

In addition, a business forum themed Russia – Greece: Expanding business horizons will take place on the second day. At a press conference, held yesterday to present the Moscow mission, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas noted that the participation of so many Greek enterprises in the initiative proves its growing success.

Go International is an Economic Cooperation programme which aims to enhance multilateral trade in the wider region of Central, Southeastern Europe & the Eastern Mediterranean.

It is a joint effort of Eurobank group with the three export associations, the Panhellenic Exporters’ Association, the Greek International Business Association, the Exporters’ Association of Crete and the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV).

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece is on an official visit to the United States from May 15 to 21. Invited by Archbishop Demetrios of America, Ieronymos is the first Prelate of the Church of Greece to visit the U.S. in more than 50 years; during his visit, he was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Theology from the Holy Cross Theological School, in Boston.

"Greece will find its way again," stressed the head of Greece's Orthodox Church, while delivering the Sunday sermon at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan, on May 19.

He stated that the country was going through much pain, but would keep its spirit strong, that’s why he appealed for unity. After the sermon, Archbishop of America Demetrios presented Ieronymos with a cheque of $100,000, as a contribution to be spent on helping Greek children in need. The joint service was attended by the Greek Ambassador to the United States Christos Panagopoulos, Cyprus' permanent representative to the United Nations, the consular authorities of Greece and Cyprus, as well as Diaspora representatives.

The Laboratory of International Relations and European Integration of the University of Macedonia hosted on May 20 an event titled Rebuilding a New Europe: The role of humanism, as part of the Jean Monnet Program New Challenges in the Dynamics of the EU Integration Process. Keynote speaker at the conference was writer and film director Pedro Olalla Gonzalez de la Vega. Born in 1966, in Oviedo, Spain, Olalla has displayed his talent as a philologist, translator and filmmaker.

During the conference, his documentary Why Greece? was screened, followed by the presentation of an honorary plaque to Olalla, for his contribution to Greek culture.

Spanish born Olalla has maintained a strong relationship with Greece for over 28 years and driven by his love for it, he moved to Athens in 1994, to research, create and teach.


He was awarded the title of  “Ambassador of Hellenism” March 4, 2010 for his multifaceted work on Greek culture, at an event at the Athens Concert Hall.

You Tube: Why Greece (¿Por qué Grecia?) [VIDEO]

Carpo London is the first store abroad of the Greek family company Carpo Hellas, one of the fastest growing companies in Greece in processing, packaging and merchandising premium nuts, dried fruit and honey.

Visit Carpo London for a degustation of freshly-roasted nuts and dried fruit and learn more about their varieties and nutritional value. An edgy interior design, a well informed and polite personnel and the quality of Carpo products guarantee a store where everyone feels at home.

Carpo Hellas's flag store opened in 2011 in Kolonaki, Athens, one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods of the capital, and the London store is the newest addition, aiming at expanding the company’s premium quality in products and service to a wider world.